Exploring the link between sedentary behaviour and dry eye

Analysis of a population of 48,418 people based in the Netherlands has explored the relationship between sedentary behaviour and the risk of developing dry eye disease.

The research, which was published in The Ocular Surface, found that spending long periods sitting down was linked to a higher risk of dry eye disease.

If computer-use intensive sitting time was excluded from total sitting time, the association remained significant between sedentary behaviour and highly symptomatic dry eye disease.

However, the link between sedentary behaviour and a clinical diagnosis of dry eye disease was no longer significant if computer-use intensive sitting time was excluded.

“Screen use could explain the observed relationship and should be noted as a possible key confounder,” the study authors highlighted.

Higher levels of physical activity ameliorated the elevated risk of dry eye disease among people who spend large amounts of time sitting down.

The researchers from Oslo University Hospital and the University Medical Center Groningen examined the population-based Lifelines cohort for the study.